The Honour Mode in Baldur’s Gate 3 presents players with the ultimate challenge. One player was so afraid of a boss from Act 1 that he prepared for a long time and ultimately defeated it effortlessly.
What is the deal with the hard mode? In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Honour Mode (English: Honour Mode), the hardest difficulty of all, poses the ultimate challenge for players. In Honour Mode, there is no rewinding, no chance to repeat clumsy rolls through Save Scumming, or to revise decisions.
Spoiler: The article contains spoilers about Act 1.
Once made, decisions are final, and mistakes can have devastating consequences. Every boss has an added special ability, called legendary actions, to make the fight even harder and the mode can do much more. If the group dies, the Honour Mode is over – afterwards, however, one can switch to Tactician or allow the save file to be deleted.
In this merciless environment, a player took a risk in a fight against a feared boss in Act 1 – we are talking about the Vettel. He prepared for the fight for a long time.
Start video
Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence
Player returns only with Level 7 to the Vettel, defeats her in one go
How exactly did he prepare? Every step must be well thought out, and the smallest mistake can mean the end. In this context, Evoxrus_XV decided to prepare carefully because he had previously heard that the Vettel produces more clones and other players had warned him about this fight. He shares his story on reddit.
He decided to minimize risks by thoroughly exploring the entire starting area, completely clearing the Underdark, and leveling up to Level 7 before facing the Vettel. In comparison: In the second hardest mode Tactician, one can kill the Vettel already at Level 3 or Level 4.
He even killed all in the Githyanki crib first and only then returned to her tea house.
This is how the battle went: When the decisive moment came and Aunt Ethel was revealed as the Vettel, the battle began. She became invisible, and Evoxrus_XV had Gale cast a fire spell (presumably fireball) at the spot where she stood invisibly.
After that, he cast the spell Tasha’s hideous laughter. The spell causes a targeted creature to fall into fits of laughter. The affected creature is on the ground laughing and is unable to perform bonus actions, actions, or reactions for the duration of the laughter. The target can attempt to shake off the effect every time it takes damage.
On reddit, the player writes that he plays Astarion as a monk with the subclass Way of the Open Hand. He stunned the Vettel with the monk’s strike Stunning Strike and hit her again with a flurry of class actions from the monk, dealing a lot of damage.
With Lae’zel (Class: Fighter), he then struck her four more times. The player himself takes on the role of a Warlock and dealt the final blow with an Eldritch Blast.
Through the skillful combination of attacks, the Vettel became incapacitated, and Evoxrus_XV was able to defeat her in a single move.
Evoxrus_XV says:
She couldn’t even escape into her hideout. RIP Ethel. You scared me so much that I took you out with a shot before you could even deliver a boss fight.
The Anime for One Piece has been with us for 24 years now. In the process, more than 1,000 episodes have been produced. MeinMMO presents 5 episodes that have been rated the best by fans.
Warning for spoilers: The following article contains summaries of episodes that go up to the Wa-no-Kuni arc. If you are not that far in the story yet, you should come back at a later time.
The 5 episodes with the highest rating (9.6 stars) and the most user ratings were selected
The episodes are not in the same arc
Thus, episodes that happened one after the other are excluded. In 2nd and 3rd place were actually two episodes from the Marineford arc, with only one episode in between. Here we decided to combine the two episodes in 2nd place. The same applies to 3rd place: here we discuss events from Enies Lobby that happened shortly after one another.
[toc]
Place 5: Blow Up the Auction
Episode: 396
User ratings: 6,164
Arc: Sabaody Archipelago
In this episode, mermaid Kamy struggles with a terrible fate: she is part of an auction where world aristocrats choose their new slaves. Charlos is one of these world aristocrats and hopes to win the mermaid at auction.
But the Straw Hat crew has their own plan: they try to legally bid for Kamy. Unfortunately, Charlos gets in their way, offering more than double what Nami and co. have in money.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to free Kamy in any other way. She wears a collar that explodes the moment it is removed from her. This would result in her death. However, it is not an option for the Straw Hat crew to leave Kamy behind.
Therefore, Luffy crashes through the roof of the auction house and gives Charlos the scolding he deserves. The punch in the face is the reason why the episode is rated so highly by fans. The world aristocrats finally get their just punishment!
Place 4: Gear 4! The Phenomenal Boundman!
Episode: 726
User ratings: 8,013
Arc: Dressrosa
Doflamingo has erected a giant birdcage around Dressrosa, which shrinks over time. Many civilians flee to the center of the cage to avoid being cut by the razor-sharp threads that make up the cage.
Meanwhile, Luffy confronts Doflamingo. Doflamingo has already defeated Trafalgar Law and cut off one of his arms. But the dwarfs Moncherry and Leo manage to reattach the arm.
The highlight of the episode is undoubtedly the first use of Luffy’s Gear 4. Luffy wraps his arms in Armament Haki and inflates them. His upper body gets bigger and he starts bouncing on his legs like a rubber ball. With a Gum-Gum Kong Gun, he shows Doflamingo his new powers and punches him down to the lower streets of the city.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Mad World Age of Darkness is an MMORPG that started as a browser game in April 2023. Now, the transition to Steam is taking place, and players can look forward to many rewards and new content.
When will Mad World be released on Steam? The development studio Jandisoft has announced that Mad World Age of Darkness will be released on Steam on January 25, 2024.
In the MMORPG, you find yourself in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has fallen. Demons have overrun and devastated the world. In this world, you try to fight for a new and better future.
Mad World aims to stay true to classic MMORPGs but still impress with some features:
Gameplay is viewed from an isometric perspective, and the graphics are fully hand-drawn
Unique and quirky enemies
Instead of classes, there is a complex skill tree to create a unique character
Play and fight together with friends
Meet profound NPCs that have quests for you or want to share stories
In the promo video, you get a good impression of the quirky world of Mad World:
Start video
Mad World Age of Darkness Promo Video
What does the transition to Steam entail? Along with the release on Steam, the developers have announced some rewards and new content.
Above all, the developers want to attract new and old players with some events after the release and promise some rewards for pre-registration. Players can register on the official website until January 24, 2024 (via madworldmmo.com).
For this, you will receive not only some powerful items but also a normally paid skin for your character. All players who have logged into the game by February 24, 2024, will also receive a unique pet and a package for improving abilities.
Along with the Steam release, Mad World will also receive a new server. Additionally, the developers promise new areas, such as a mine and a dark forest, new dungeons, items, and a new boss fight.
How to get Ancient Items in Diablo 3? We show you various ways to obtain the Ancient Items.
To improve your character in Diablo 3, you collect a lot of equipment and weapons on your adventures. These items have different rarity values. The rarer items are particularly interesting for players because they usually have better stats than items that can be found frequently.
Armor or weapons that are labeled as “Ancient” are particularly sought after. These items are better versions of already existing Legendarys and Set Items.
Recognizing Ancient Items
In the game, you can recognize Ancient Items by their gold/orange-colored frame after identifying them. Additionally, the description changes from “Legendary Dagger” to “Ancient Legendary Dagger”. In chat, the names of the items appear in an additional bracket. Instead of [The Barber], it shows in chat {[The Barber]}.
In addition to the display changes, there are also higher attribute values that vary depending on the item. In the example image, we compare a legendary dagger with the Ancient version of this dagger. You can see in the legendary version of the Barber dagger that the Intelligence value can reach a minimum of 626 points and a maximum of 750 points. You can recognize this by the gray numbers in the square brackets, right next to the Intelligence value. The Ancient dagger can reach 825 points to 1000 points in the Intelligence value. This is a significant improvement compared to the legendary version.
However, not all values increase when you obtain a legendary or set item in the Ancient version. Attack Speed, Critical Hit Chance, Critical Hit Damage, Elemental Damage, Resource Cost Reduction, Damage against Elite Enemies, Percentage Life, Socket, and Cooldown Reduction are not affected by the item upgrade and do not receive higher values.
How to find Ancient Items in Diablo 3?
To find Ancient Items in Diablo III, you need luck and a high torment level. At Torment 1, the chances of obtaining an Ancient Item from monsters, chests, and objects are at 1%. At Torment 6, the chances are at 10% and increase slightly with each higher torment level that you select for your game.
There are various ways to obtain Ancient Items. For example, you can find them when exchanging Blood Shards with Kadala, as a drop in Nephalem Rifts, or as loot from monsters. You can also upgrade Rare items at Kanai’s Cube and convert them into Legendary Items. For this, you need to take a yellow item (rare) and place it in the cube with the corresponding materials. You will need: 25x Death Breath, 50x Reusable Parts, 50x Arcane Dust, and 50x Forgotten Crystals. After you click on “Transmute,” you will receive a Legendary Item that has a chance to be Ancient.
Another option for an Ancient Item from Kanai’s Cube is Transmuting: The attributes of the item are changed, and there is a chance that the item will become Ancient. However, if you transmute an item that is already Ancient, this property may be lost. To transmute, you need: 5x Rune from Khanduras, 5x Nightshade from Caldeum, 5x Wall Tapestry from Arreat, 5x Corrupted Angel Flesh, 5x Holy Water from Westmarch, and 50x Forgotten Soul.
The video from 4FanSites explains the hunt for Ancient Items again:
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If you already have Ancient Items and want to improve them, you can also do this at Kanai’s Cube. The additional attribute points the item receives depend on the gems you add as materials.
For the various equipment items such as weapon, ring/amulet, or armor, you need additional materials. If you want to improve a weapon, you need a Legendary gem from level 30 in addition to the weapon and three gems of the same color mentioned above.
A ring or an amulet requires a Legendary gem from level 40 and three gems of the same color mentioned above for the upgrade. A piece of armor requires a Legendary gem from level 50 and three gems of the same color mentioned above.
The higher the level of the Legendary gem you use for the upgrade, the more attribute points the item will receive.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Murlocs are among the most well-known enemies in World of Warcraft – and not just because they can be found almost everywhere. Their behavior and especially their strange gurgling have caused memes since Vanilla. MeinMMO explains where the sound comes from, which still takes your breath away in Classic.
Update: It has now been clarified that the Murloc sound, despite several reports, does not come from Bob Fitch but from Tracy Bush. There was a joke at Blizzard that “Bob did everything” – and that is not true.
They communicate in a language called “Nerglish”, which consists of guttural gurgling sounds.
Their most famous call can be heard when you attack a Murloc and goes: “Aaaaaughibbrgubugbugrguburgle!”, with the correct spelling being sought by players for years.
That’s why the sound causes fear: Murlocs are known to attack in large groups. You usually cannot pull just one Murloc; as soon as you attack one, you have the whole village on your heels. And if not, friends and relatives will join as soon as the Murloc flees, and you can’t kill it in time.
They are considered the deadliest enemies, especially in early levels, at least in WoW Classic. Especially in hardcore mode, where every death is permanent, players are extremely cautious when they have to kill Murlocs.
At least every player who played before Cataclysm and doesn’t know exactly what happens when a Murloc attacks him will flee as soon as he hears the gurgling.
The most dangerous enemy in WoW was probably a plague that nearly wiped out all players:
Start video
Virtual epidemic nearly destroyed WoW – How did this happen?
“That was this man, as he gargles yogurt”
Fans have been speculating for some time about where the famous sound of the Murlocs actually comes from. Allegedly this was already explained in the Making Of Vanilla WoW almost 20 years ago, but we cannot verify that.
Former Blizzard employee Jason T. Hall has now dug up the origin again. In his stream, he explains: the developer Bob Fitch is responsible for the sound of the Murlocs (via YouTube).
Fitch has been with Blizzard since 1992 and has worked on Warcraft 1-3, StarCraft, and Diablo among others. The Murloc call is said to have originated by Fitch gargling into a microphone with his mouth full of yogurt.
Whether this is actually true is hard to confirm. Other fans have spread this statement years ago. We have also inquired with Blizzard, but are currently still waiting for a response.
However, Jason T. Hall is considered a fairly reliable source when it comes to Blizzard matters. He worked for 6 years and 6 months at Blizzard, mainly in the security field. For some time, he has been drawing attention with his own company Pirate Software and with his Twitch stream, where he has explained among other things, that a horse brought Blizzard more revenue than all of StarCraft 2.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The German Twitch streamer ohnePixel (25) is a fixed constant in the worldwide Steam hit Counter-Strike 2. Between the years, on December 29, he has now announced that he will open his own marketplace for skins in Counter-Strike 2. It started off rocky.
Who is he?
ohnePixel is the second largest Twitch streamer worldwide for Counter-Strike, only the Brazilian Gaules is ahead of him.
Counter-Strike 2: Valve once again impresses with the launch trailer
ohnePixel fulfills a dream, opens his own skin marketplace
That was the announcement: On December 29, ohnePixel tweeted that he now owns a skin marketplace for CS2 together with zipel, another skin nerd. On the site, you can buy, sell, or auction skins.
He had dreamed of this for years.
Site collapses under traffic load and fans mock and troll
That was the problem: When ohnePixel announced this, he peaked at 21,075 viewers on Twitch. His tweet reached 580,000 views. Apparently, many people who had read or seen this announcement wanted to go to the new marketplace immediately.
And the site collapsed under the rush.
ohnePixel then had to listen to some quips on Twitter that went like:
“I 27ll visit the site in 1 hour and 27 minutes.”
Or: “There is also something called a stress test.”
very friendly also: “Hopefully, you don 27t lose as much money with skins as with NFTs.”
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MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller is an extremely ambitious shooter player. To improve, he played an aim trainer for over 100 hours in 2023 and trained for 50 consecutive days. But does that really help to become better at shooters?
One of the most important characteristics that players need to be good at shooters is aim – that is, the ability to aim precisely at the opponent with your crosshair. While there are other important aspects, such as crosshair placement, movement, or positioning, good aim is often the key to success.
I am a pretty ambitious player with a healthy sportsmanship and enjoy competitive shooters a lot. I am motivated to compete with other players. I always have the drive to win and want to keep getting better.
But in the past few months, various opponents have shown me the limits of my skill, my aim – especially in Valorant, the shooter I want to play in the coming years. So I decided to start Aimlabs again and train – this time with a precise plan and a somewhat fixed routine. I had already played a few hours some time ago, but without really knowing what I was doing. Now the goal is clear: I want to get better, and for that, I will shoot for hours at blue balls, if necessary.
After over 100 hours in Aimlabs, I can say: Yes, aim trainers definitely bring some improvement. I want to explain to you how I came to this conclusion.
What are aim trainers and what is Aimlabs? Aim trainers like Aimlabs are programs that you should use to train your aim. There are various exercises where you shoot at different targets, such as balls. Depending on the exercise, your precision, speed, or tracking is supposed to improve.
The first rounds show initial successes
In the first rounds of Aimlab, I immediately noticed that I am currently not in shape – if that’s how you can describe it. I was slow and precision also left a lot to be desired.
I therefore started with simple exercises like the “grid shot” and the “spider shot”. Both exercises are available in a special “precision” variant, which I played because I wanted to improve my precision in particular. For that, I had to train my muscle memory, so the correct execution of the exercises was my top priority.
I aimed slowly at the blue balls and ensured that I hit as many shots as possible. I deliberately ignored the score I achieved. I didn’t want to develop bad habits in my aim routine by playing quickly and hastily for high scores.
I knew that my results would therefore be below my old values, in which I tried to achieve as many points as possible and accepted reductions in precision. But that didn’t matter.
Start video
Aimlabs kicks off the event ‘Aimest’ with a trailer
After just a few hours, I noticed that my method was indeed successful. It became much easier for me to hit the blue balls. Not that it was difficult before, but the movement towards the ball became simply smoother through the training.
This in turn led to me becoming faster again and soon already reaching my old high scores – this time, however, with noticeably better precision. Even now, I could already see a slight improvement in shooters like Valorant, but I was still far from my goal.
I chose an exercise called Sixshot, where the targets to hit are significantly smaller. I now spent most of my Aimlab time there and varied only occasionally with similar exercises.
The perfect exercise to perfect precision
Sixshot proved to be the perfect method for me to increase my precision. Since the targets were truly very small, even a tiny inaccuracy made a difference. It was important that I took my time to aim precisely at the target.
Especially my ability to flick at small targets improved significantly through Sixshot. Again, I could see particularly in Valorant that I was consistently hitting my opponents’ heads. If I had previously occasionally shot 1-2 millimeters beside the head and therefore lost a gunfight, my shots now hit the target.
The routine helped me get used to “proper” aiming
In addition to Sixshot, I played a lot of the exercises “VCT LATAM – Kingg” and “Static Click”. The balls to shoot there were noticeably larger than in Sixshot, but the balls were also further apart and distributed over a larger area on the monitor. I was therefore forced to use my arm more when aiming than I had done before.
By using my arm more, my aim improved significantly. Additionally, I finally managed to truly get used to aiming with my whole arm. However, I noticed not only that I became more precise, but also that my sensitivity was too high. Shortly afterwards, a process began in which I repeatedly lowered my sensitivity in small increments. The better I became at aiming with my whole arm, the lower my sensitivity had to be.
After a few days, I reached a point where I didn’t need to reduce my sensitivity any further and could once again focus on perfecting my aim with the new sensitivity.
Competitions with friends demanded me to get even better
After about 30 days, I was sure that I wouldn’t make any major leaps anymore. I wasn’t stagnating, but my improvement was significantly less than in the first week.
Now it was a matter of sticking to the blue ball and continuing to practice consistently. This was much easier for me since some friends were also playing Aimlabs and we tried to outperform each other.
The competition with my friends and the desire to rise in the leaderboards provided the perfect motivation not to let my training slip. It was always necessary for me to give my best – I couldn’t be worse than my teammates.
Of course, I also played other shooters during this entire time. I noticed that I hit my opponents better in every single game. My aim has simply become much more consistent through the training.
In Overwatch, it was easier for me to hit also agile heroes like Tracer or Lúcio. In Rainbow Six: Siege, the Ash mains were no longer safe from me, and in fast shooters like CoD: MW3 or The Finals, my shots now hit their target more frequently.
However, I noticed the biggest difference in CS2 and Valorant. Especially at greater distances, where the heads of my opponents looked terribly small, I no longer shot past by a millimeter without realizing it. I was now the necessary little bit better to win more gunfights.
By the way, I still play Aimlabs, even if sometimes it’s only 5-10 minutes a day. Before I go into a proper shooter, I stick to my routine. Nevertheless, I currently spend most of my time in The Finals. Because for me, that is the best shooter of the year:
The Canadian company Digital Extremes is primarily known to MMO fans for Warframe. With Soulframe , they are now planning a new game: a hybrid of cooperative gameplay and action MMORPG with an open world. Just before 2024, the head of the company went live on Twitch and showed over an hour of fresh gameplay.
What do we know about Soulframe?
Soulframe is intended to be a hybrid between a cooperative game and an action MMORPG, featuring an open world and procedurally generated instances.
The game is supposed to have a clear fantasy aesthetic – at its core, it involves a conflict between technology and nature. Soulframe is set to be a free-to-play game.
Because the SF-MMO Warframe is doing so well and enjoys such a positive reputation in the community, having been developed excellently, Soulframe is starting with some early accolades: Many people are watching, hoping for a new fantasy MMORPG.
Soulframe was announced in July 2022, since then there has been little news about the game:
Start video
Soulframe Cinematic Reveal Trailer
Head shows new gameplay of Soulframe on Twitch
That was the stream: On December 30, Steve Sinclair, the head of Digital Extremes, went online on Twitch and showed 75 minutes of fresh gameplay from Soulframe.
The stream had about 935 viewers at its peak live – the recording of the stream is online and has nearly 17,000 views on Twitch.
Currently, Soulframe is still in a pre-alpha state.
Here you can see the 75 minutes of gameplay from Soulframe:
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As reported by mmorpg.com, the stream shows among other things:
cool combat skills
the ability to destroy objects in the environment
unlockable abilities that can turn enemies to stone or summon phantoms to chase down foes – along with abilities that regenerate health points and mana
A first look at Soulframe.
That’s a good way for people looking forward to Soulframe to start the new year 2024.
Are you in the mood for a good horror movie? Then we have exactly what you need. We show you 5 strong horror films directed by women.
While women have made a name for themselves in various genres, they remain underrepresented as directors. According to womendandhollywood.com, from 2007 to 2021, only 5.4% of directors in Hollywood were women. The percentage of female directors was 4.5% in 2018 and 12.7% in 2021.
For this reason, we would like to introduce you to female directors who have created strong horror films.
How was the list created? All the films have an IMDb rating of at least 6.6, and each is directed by a woman. Most titles are currently available on streaming services – but keep in mind that availability may change over time. Our order in the post is random and has no meaning. These are horror films and thrillers with horror elements.
Original title: American Psycho Director: Mary Harron (Alias Grace – Miniseries) Streaming service: currently available to rent (3.99 €) / buy (7.99 €) on Amazon Prime
Start video
American Psycho (2000) trailer in English
American Psycho is set in the late 1980s and follows wealthy investment banker Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale), who chases an ideal of beauty and wants to belong to the elite. Bateman tries to hide his psychopathic tendencies from his friends and colleagues, while becoming more deeply immersed in his fantasies.
The film boasts a rating of 6.7/10 based on over 690,000 ratings on IMDb.
Fun fact: During filming of American Psycho, Christian Bale spoke with an American accent. When he later spoke in his British accent at a party, many crew members thought he was using that accent for another film. They had believed him to be American throughout filming (via IMDb).
Originally, Leonardo DiCaprio was planned for the role of Patrick Bateman, but the director did not see him in that role. You can find out more with our colleagues at Moviepilot.
Fear Street – Part 2: 1978 (2021)
Original title: Fear Street Part Two: 1978 Director: Leigh Janiak (Scream – Series; Outcast – Series) Streaming service: Netflix
Start video
Trailer for Fear Street – Part 2: 1978 (English)
The three “Fear Street” films are based on the book series of the same name by R. L. Stine. They were released sequentially in July 2021, with a one-week interval, on Netflix. The setting of Fear Street – Part 2 is the summer camp Nightwing. There, two rival groups of teenagers must confront the terrors from the history of their towns that come back to life.
Although the first part of the series has a rating of 6.2/10 from over 91,000 ratings, it would not normally appear on the list. However, since the second film has the highest rating of the series at 6.7/10 with around 74,000 ratings (via IMDb), we have included it in representation for the “Fear Street” films. Fear Street – Part 3: 1966 has a rating of 6.6 with approximately 61,668 ratings.
Fun fact: The “Fear Street” films bear similarities to Stranger Things, including the combination of coming-of-age aspects with horror elements and nostalgic glimpses into past decades of pop culture. You can read more exciting facts about Fear Street with our colleagues at Moviepilot.
Fresh (2022)
Original title: Fresh Director: Mimi Cave Streaming service: Disney+
Start video
Trailer for the thriller Fresh (English)
The thriller with comedic elements revolves around Noa, who is frustrated with boring dates with men she meets online. When she meets the awkward, charming Steve at the grocery store, she gathers her courage and gives him her number. Despite her best friend’s concerns, Noa decides to spend a weekend with Steve, during which she learns more about his cannibalistic passion.
The film has a rating of 6.7/10 based on over 70,000 ratings on IMDb.
In Baldur’s Gate 3 has many villains, each shining in their own way. MyMMO author Fabienne Kissel has compiled her top 5 in a ranking.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, you encounter a variety of impressive characters, some of whom embody the role of the villain with a compelling intensity. The diversity of their personalities, motivations, and actions makes it hard to categorize them easily.
Nevertheless, I decided to compile my personal top 5 favorites in a ranking. This is a personal opinion and ranking, which is not universally valid – everyone has their own preferences. Feel free to discuss this post and share your personal favorites at the end.
Warning – Spoilers ahead! Of course, we rank villains from all three acts of Baldur’s Gate 3. And when we write here Spoiler, we mean the plot-totally-revealing version of it.
Place 5: Aunt Ethel – Brilliant setting and a pure nightmare
Aunt Ethel first enters the stage as an unassuming, harmless older lady, who lulls you into a false sense of security. One might easily tend to view her as an innocent figure.
However, throughout the game, her true nature is revealed, and it becomes clear that she is anything but harmless. Aunt Ethel is a despicable hag who unleashes her cruelty notably on the poor Mayrina.
Aunt Ethel is a masterfully designed hag in Baldur’s Gate 3. She does justice to the fairy creatures.
Her tea house swamp setting is a brilliantly chosen place for her dark deeds. The location is riddled with her cruel acts, which enhances the frightening atmosphere.
Aunt Ethel is undoubtedly a character that has etched itself deeply into my memory, and the skillful implementation of the hag and the setting contributes to making her an unforgettable nightmare.
She is not only a physically threatening figure but also psychologically disturbing. The emotional cruelty she shows, among others, towards Mayrina gets under your skin. And at the same time, she makes you laugh with her unique humor. For me, Ethel is definitely one of the highlights in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Place 4: Astarion – Between Good and Evil
Astarion is not only my preferred companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 but also one of the most fascinating villains – not least because of my passion for vampires. However, my fascination for him goes far beyond a mere preference for bloodsuckers; it is rooted mainly in his multifaceted personality.
The darker sides of Astarion’s nature are evident: A hint of arrogance, selfishness, and above all, an insatiable hunger for power characterizes him. What particularly captivated me were his compelling charm, his sarcastic humor, and his dark backstory.
Astarion’s interest in the suffering of others and his joy in the pain of those he sees as weaker unmistakably reveal his dark side – a side based on deeply rooted traumas, oppression, and the cruel abuse by Cazador.
Astarion has completely captivated me.
The story of Astarion is marked by an unstoppable drive for personal survival and freedom from Cazador. His desire for revenge against his former master reflects the dark instincts that bubble within him.
The prospect of rising to the exalted vampire with incredible power, who would never have to fear anyone again, seems extremely tempting to him – even if it means sacrificing thousands of vampire spawns in a ritual.
The decision of whether Astarion follows the dark path of his past or through conviction becomes a better version of himself adds extra depth to his character. Depending on the decision, he can either become the Cazador he hates – power-hungry and possessive – or muster the courage to free himself from his traumatic past and become an improved version of himself. In any case, Astarion remains a fascinating character for me, who blurs the lines between good and evil in an impressive way.
Start video
Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence
Place 3: Orin the Red – Unpredictable Sadist
Orin, the dark shapeshifter, finds herself in 3rd place on my list of favorite villains in Baldur’s Gate 3. For me, she embodies pure evil, reveling in her atrocities as an Chosen One of Bhaal. Her joy in killing and her greed for pain make her a true sadist. She loves it and enjoys playing with her victims.
What makes Orin particularly dangerous is her unique shapeshifting ability. With clever use of this gift, she can assume the appearance of any person, thus manipulating innocent victims in a perfidious way. Her impulsive reactions and the opacity of her plans make her an unpredictable villain, always up for surprises.
The dark family history of Orin adds to the complexity of her character. As the daughter of Sarevok and Helena Anchev, she experienced abuse and mistreatment in her own family. Sarevok is not only her father but also her grandfather, as he is the father of Helena.
Orin loves playing with her victims.
The tragedy takes a particularly dark turn when Sarevok commissions Helena to sacrifice Orin for Bhaal. Helena wanted to carry out her act because she desperately wanted to prove herself worthy to Bhaal and rise as the Chosen One.
But she failed, as Orin, still a child at the time, killed her mother in self-defense. She lifted her corpse and displayed it in her room in the Bhaal temple. Later, she became the Chosen One of Bhaal after waiting for an opportunity to betray her family and gain Bhaal’s favor for herself. Orin is responsible for the Dark Urge, who is also a Bhaalspawn and can thus be seen as Orin’s brother, suffering from amnesia and being caught by the Illithids.
In Minthara’s story, you learn more about Orin’s cruelty. When Minthara was invited as an honored guest to the Towers of Dawn, Orin jumped on the table and slit her soldiers’ throats. Minthara was the only survivor, and Orin cruelly played with her – tortured her. Later, she made Minthara infect with a Mind Flayer larva, turning her into a True Soul.
Impressive is also Orin’s character design. It perfectly combines coolness and abomination. And again, one must say how perfectly matched the choice of voice actress was. Orin was wonderfully portrayed by Maggie Robertson in my opinion – without her talent, it would not have been the same experience. Maggie Robertson also lent her voice to Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village. Kudos to Larian Studios – Orin is definitely one of those villains who will remain unforgettable for me.
Place 2: Raphael – Devilish Charm and Fun
Raphael is thoroughly a devil, who initially appears to us in the guise of a mysterious and charming human. But his true intentions and diabolical nature are quickly revealed when we are teleported into a room of the House of Hope and Raphael reveals himself as a Cambion. At that moment, I was overwhelmed by a sense of awe at the impressive setting – a place I wanted to explore as quickly as possible.
For me, Raphael is undoubtedly one of the most fascinating villains in Baldur’s Gate 3, mainly due to his charming and sophisticated character. Right from the start, he presents himself as an opaque figure who offers his assistance, while obviously pursuing his own dark motives. The constant temptation to accept his enticing offer went hand in hand with distrust.
Raphael does a good job as a devil.
What particularly sets Raphael apart is his charming and manipulative personality. Raphael’s inclination towards poetry and his dramatic staging of every scene make him a unique villain.
His obvious endless enjoyment of involving players in his treacherous schemes adds an entertaining note to the entire plot. Every encounter with Raphael was a delight for me, as he convinces with the liveliness and originality of his portrayal, which his voice actor Andrew Windcott has excellently presented.
Fun Fact: When fighting against Raphael, he has exactly 666 hit points in Tactician mode – the number is interpreted as a symbol of the devil.
Raphael also has a cool personal boss fight song. The decision to use the sound of an organ is simply perfect and creates a dark atmosphere.
A special highlight is that Raphael personally sings in the song. This artistic touch makes the boss fight against him not only more epic but has also ensured that I just can’t get the melody out of my head. I love this song – not as much as Down by the River, but it has definitely left a lasting impression.
Here you can listen to Raphael’s song:
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Placing Ketheric Thorm at number one is based on a personal decision. For me, he is the most well-developed and captivating villain in Baldur’s Gate 3. This is because Ketheric Thorm has managed to be an intimidating and evil character for whom one feels empathy – at least, that was the case for me. Among all the villains, he stands out mainly due to his human side, his motivations, and tragedies.
Before turning to evil and shrouding his existence in darkness, he was once a devout follower of Selûne, who ruled over the city of Reithwin. But pain and a series of fateful events followed.
The painful loss of his wife Melodia and later his daughter Isobel plunged him into a whirlpool of despair and darkness. Here began the dark journey that led him to become a follower of Shar and eventually the Chosen One of Myrkul.
The goddess Shar exploited his despair and grief for herself. Ketheric established an army of dark elite warriors in her name. He deceived Aylin, the beloved of his daughter, lured her to Shadowfell, imprisoned her there to later ultimately use her immortality for himself.
Ketheric is my favorite among the villains in Baldur’s Gate 3.
In the battle against the forces of the Harpers and the Druids of the Emerald Grove, Ketheric Thorm, however, failed and died. He is responsible for the Shadow Curse plaguing the land. Myrkul, the god of death and a member of the Dead Three, brought Ketheric Thorm back to life as an undead and made him his Chosen One with the task of forming an alliance with the other Chosen Ones of the Dead Three. All this was in return for his daughter’s return to life. However, upon her return, she turned away from him.
His willingness to serve Myrkul and sacrifice his own soul so that his daughter could return from the dead illustrates the extreme despair and lost faith in the goodness of the world.
What makes Ketheric Thorm so unique to me are his human motives. Unlike many villains driven by sadistic joy or insatiable thirst for power, Ketheric acts out of deep love for his family. He is not a simple template of evil but a broken man who has lost himself and everything else.
In the deepest abysses, Ketheric realizes that his actions were wrong, but that there is no place for redemption. His terrible deeds have destroyed too much, and he knows that he has lost himself and is no longer the same person he once was. He cannot return to the old self. The attempt to fix the unbearable and the impossibility of undoing the past weighs like an unavoidable judgment on his soul.
All of this is incredibly well embodied by the voice actor of Ketheric, J.K. Simmons. In my opinion, Simmons not only expresses the dark presence of Ketheric but also the nuances of despair, pain, and inner conflict.
What do you think of the ranking? Which villains have particularly fascinated you? Feel free to discuss this post and share your personal favorite villains from Baldur’s Gate 3.
On December 30th, the US thriller “Wind River” aired on ZDF and is now available for free until January 6, 2024, in the ZDF Mediathek. An ideal film for winter and a strong thriller with two Marvel stars, says MeinMMO author Schuhmann.
What is the thriller about? A ranger finds a dead 18-year-old of indigenous descent in the freezing cold of Wyoming, apparently a murder victim.
A young FBI agent arrives in the US province and encounters distress, misery, and a wall of silence. There is nothing to be gleaned from the locals, only a gruff sheriff and a taciturn hunter seem to be of assistance.
But they give her little hope of ever finding the murderer. The area is vast, and the resources are limited.
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Thriller: Wind River – German trailer
Jeremy Renner is the born hunter as a superhero or not
Who are the Marvel stars? Jeremy Renner plays the hunter “Hawkeye” in the Marvel universe, and his role in Wind River is similarly structured: a taciturn, pragmatic hunter who finds support and warmth in his family, and whose pragmatism turns ruthless as soon as this support is taken away.
Elizabeth Olsen plays the young FBI agent, who loses all big-city naivety in a short time when confronted with the relentless nature of humans and the landscape in Wyoming. In the Marvel universe, she represents the Scarlet Witch, who is much tougher than she appears.
A stone is rolled up the mountain, thundering down as an avalanche into the valley
What is special about the film: Wind River takes its time for melancholic and sad scenes where people stare into the void and regret decisions made years ago. It revolves around breaking free from this world, going to college, or joining the army. New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles – it doesn’t matter, just being somewhere else.
But in these quiet scenes, which are already strong on their own, a stone is rolled up a mountain, crashing down into the valley as a gigantic avalanche at the climax of the film. How the film transitions from cozy comfort to a relentless fight is masterful.
The climax of the film is a fantastic sequence of scenes that pins you to your seat for 20-30 minutes full of action and tension.
Wind River has a rating of 7.7 out of 10 stars on IMDB and is one of the best thrillers of recent years.
The US thriller Wind River is now in the ZDF Mediathek. You can watch the film there until January 6, 2024, between 10 PM and 6 AM without any issues. To watch it during the day, you need to complete an age verification. Otherwise, it is also available on Netflix – but with a subscription.
The Twitch streamer Raxxanterax seems to have received the ultimate gift in Path of Exile shortly after Christmas: He achieved a “double drop” of Mageblood. Twitch streamer Asmongold explains why this is so cool.
What is Mageblood?
This is a powerful and rare belt: It is generally considered the “rarest and thus most expensive item” in Path of Exile that can drop “purely.” While there are better items, they need to be crafted first.
A Mageblood is worth several hundred Divine Orbs, the unofficial currency of Path of Exile. It is also a kind of status symbol.
Mageblood is the item for which players build “Magic Find” builds to find it. With such a build, players intentionally make themselves weaker but increase their chance of good loot.
Start video
Path of Exile: Affliction Official Trailer
“What is that icon, I have never seen it before?”
How was the find? The Twitch streamer Raxxanterax actually comes from Diablo, having spent 1,521 hours in Diablo 4 last year, but he is now also playing Path of Exile or Last Epoch.
During a stream around Christmas, he was out and found the rare item twice with a drop.
He asked: “Is this Mageblood? I have never seen the icon,” while his face noticeably brightened up.
Asmongold makes the clip go viral
This is how the clip went viral: The Twitch streamer Asmongold found this clip and commented on it – thus the clip reached over 420,000 people.
Asmongold made some of his patented “I am so incredibly surprised that my eyebrows are flying out of the frame” faces, noted that even the official “Path of Exile” account was in the Twitch chat of the streamer at the time of the double drop, and then tried to explain to the viewers why the item is so incredibly rare: Asmongold’s viewers are more familiar with Blizzard’s Diablo 4 than with Path of Exile.
He also explained that the streamer is not allowed to give away the item – the rules prohibit that:
Streamers can accept gifts from viewers in Path of Exile
However, they are not allowed to give anything to the viewers themselves – the developers do not want that
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While the streamer himself could hardly believe his luck and felt somewhat embarrassed to have been so lucky, as it just couldn’t be like that, Asmongold saw it differently: That was absolutely fair. The streamer had played a build with Magic Find and found the item – so everything was okay. That’s just how it was supposed to be.
On reddit, they discuss the clip and say: Such a feeling of luck does not exist in Diablo 4 at all. There, one would find the ultra-rare items like “Shako”constantly now or could easily buy them for gold.
Under Asmongold’s video, users comment: The streamer has “used up the luck of several lifetimes” in that stream – because shortly after, he found even more rare items, like a “Headhunter,” another unique belt.
It is the end of the year 2023 and as tradition has it, many comedy specials, with which the stars of the scene have been on tour for a year, land on Netflix: Among them is “Where was I” by Trevor Noah. The host of the “Daily Show” also addresses Germany and the national anthem in his somewhat more than one-hour performance in Detroit.
Trevor Noah approaches feelings and laughter. While typical US comedians like Jim Gaffigan prefer to laugh at themselves and Ricky Gervais often leaves you with laughter stuck in your throat, Trevor Noah always carries a message promoting a better world.
In his latest comedy special, he finds this better world, which he explains to the US audience, precisely in Germany: He talks about a trip to Berlin and how honestly the Germans deal with their dark past: The Germans would explain to children in school what their ancestors did during the Nazi era, telling the children that it was not their fault, but that we all have to ensure that such things do not happen again.
One should not conceal the past, even if it is uncomfortable, but confront it.
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Trevor Noah: Where Was I – Trailer
Germany, Noah says, did everything differently after the war: They even changed the national anthem, but kept “the beat” and only exchanged the lyrics, comparing it to the Jedi in Star Wars keeping the “Imperial March” by Darth Vader after their victory.
Germany actually did not change the national anthem but decided in 1952 that only the third stanza (Unity and justice and freedom) should be sung.
In the USA, there is a completely different approach to history, as he makes clear with the example of “Columbus Day”: Only a white man has the confidence to sail the world in the wrong direction, stubbornly claiming he discovered India and that the people living there are Indians, to then get a holiday in a country he never set foot in. Only white men could fail “upward” like this.
Other topics Noah addresses:
His own childhood in South Africa
The bizarre, unexcited attitude of the French towards their work
Why conflicts revolving around public bathrooms are fundamentally silly and only distract from the essential problems
The 5 favorite things of white people, where there is a clever punchline
Whites loved swimming so much that they manipulated the Olympics to hand out absurdly many medals to swimmers:
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The comedy special on Netflix “Where was I” lasts 68 minutes, it is only available in English but with German subtitles (via netflix).
It is more of a special for smiling and thinking rather than one for roaring laughter. Noah indeed makes hopeful comedy that aims to make the world a little bit better. Those who prefer something else can always watch Jim Gaffigan or Ricky Gervais, who also currently have their new specials on Netflix.
Nearly 10 years ago, the crypto exchange Mt. Gox filed for bankruptcy and about 24,000 users lost their Bitcoins. Now, the first customers are said to have received a refund.
How did the Bitcoins disappear? The former trading card platform Mt. Gox was the largest marketplace for Bitcoins in 2013, with 70% of Bitcoin transactions taking place through the platform 10 years ago. However, on February 7, 2014, Mt. Gox suddenly halted all withdrawals.
By the end of February 2014, the CEO of the exchange had resigned, the website was taken offline, and the company had filed for bankruptcy. Additionally, the platform claimed that it had lost 750,000 Bitcoins belonging to its customers due to a cyberattack. This was worth approximately $473 million at the time, equivalent to 428 million euros at today’s exchange rate.
Approximately 24,000 customers were affected by the website’s collapse, waiting years for their money. In November 2023, it was announced that the first creditors would be paid out. Now, users are said to have received at least part of their money back, but there is a catch (via 3D Juegos).
Start video
Chef ruined his company in 59 seconds on Twitch – What happened to him?
Some users are reportedly receiving their money back twice
What is the current development? On December 26, 2023, some users reported on social media that they had received their money back from Mt. Gox. They shared screenshots of incoming payments. Some users are said to have received their money back even twice (via Reddit).
What is the catch then? It appears that only customers who opted for a payout the old-fashioned way have been paid out so far. There are currently no reports of users who have received their lost cryptocurrency back.
The refunded amount corresponds to the value that the Bitcoins had at that time; around 422 million euros are expected to be paid out to customers. The lost 750,000 Bitcoins would now be worth 28.8 billion euros at today’s exchange rate (as of December 31, 2023).
Even though users are likely to be happy with their payout, it is only a relatively small part of what they could have today under better conditions. Nevertheless, some probably had not expected to receive anything at all after such a long time.
In 2019, 15-year-old student Benjyfishy showed so much talent for the online shooter Fortnite that his mother took him out of school. How is 19-year-old Benjyfishy doing today?
This was the situation in 2019:
The online world in 2019 was different than today: At the end of 2017, the online shooter Fortnite suddenly appeared and took the world by storm in 2018.
In 2019, the Fortnite World Championship reached its peak with $30 million in prize money. Each participant who made it to the finals earned $50,000.
In that situation, a mother decided: It was time for her talented teenager to play Fortnite with online friends in the USA at night rather than attending school in England. This was a worldwide news item in gaming media in May 2019.
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Mother takes 15-year-old son out of school so he has time for Fortnite – This is how it went for him
Son plays Fortnite at night, is tired in school – So mom takes him out of school
This was the mother’s decision: When her then 15-year-old son won about €11,300 in a Fortnite tournament, the mother decided that her son should no longer attend regular classes, but rather be homeschooled. He would learn the material in three years that he would have needed two years for in school.
The mother’s idea was that her son was involved with many Fortnite players in the USA from England, which is why he played at night and was often tired in school.
Career starts great at 15 – Becomes a hit on Twitch at 16
How did it go for the boy at the beginning? At the start of his e-sports career in 2019, things went really well for the boy. Just the prize money he won was already a multiple of an average annual salary:
At 15, he earned $392,447 in prize money from Fortnite
At 16, an additional $147,176 in prize money came in
But by 17, e-sport prize money was thinning out. The e-sport scene for Fortnite dwindled, something like the Fortnite World Championship 2019 never happened again. Covid also struck.
The prize money in Fortnite collapsed in 2019 and it kept getting worse:
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But now, 2023 brought a rude awakening: His 4 million followers on Twitch, who subscribed mainly because of Fortnite, hardly want to see him playing Valorant anymore:
Benjyfishy barely reaches 2,100 viewers today when showing Valorant. That’s only a tenth of the viewer numbers he reached in 2020.
His average viewership in 2023 has dropped by 53% compared to 2022. Since he is also streaming less, he has lost nearly 70% of his viewer hours.
He still has significantly more success in 2023 when playing Fortnite.
Benjyfishy is now a Valorant pro in Spain
Can he still make a living from gaming? His e-sport career in Valorant is also not going particularly well: Because that is not suitable for solo fighters, Valorant is a team sport. The now 19-year-old Brit has joined “Team Heretics” in Spain.
How much salary the club pays him is not known: The e-sport is going through what is called an “e-sport winter” in 2023, a global decline – millions will not flow in.
Benjyfishy mainly plays second- and third-class tournaments for a few thousand US dollars in prize money – and even that only rarely.
While Benjyfishy with a professional contract and a moderately successful Twitch channel can probably still live from gaming, it cannot be compared to the glorious times as a teenager.
But he seems to have found some happiness in Madrid, as he has extended his stay until 2025 and likely plans to stay in Madrid, even though he flies back to England over the holidays:
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Success with Fortnite was great, but apparently not sustainable
What lies behind this: The example of Benjyfishy shows how short-lived the hype in e-sports and gaming can be. While Benjyfishy earned enough prize money in the first years after his mother took him out of school to justify his mother’s decision. The success on Twitch still looked impressive in the first months after he left school.
But now it seems that his career is not exactly sustainable. Especially the decision to switch games is a high risk for an e-sports player and Twitch streamer, which currently doesn’t seem to pay off. However, he probably had to switch, as he simply didn’t want to play Fortnite anymore.
While the now 18-year-old Cody “Clix” Conrad stayed with Fortnite and can hardly walk for money now, it seems to be different for Benjyfishy.
From Fortnite Wonderkid to Number 151 on Valorant Twitch
The problem for e-sports players is also that time is ticking: The career for e-sports players is short. In the long run, it would probably be more important that the Twitch channel picks up again, but it has been steadily declining for several years.
In Valorant, other streamers, like Tarik, are currently popular, and not a former Fortnite wonderkid. Benjyfishy is currently ranked 151 among the largest Valorant channels – even HasanAbi is far from him, and he is primarily a political commentator who has shown only 80 hours of Valorant in 2023.
Other people from the Fortnite era have at least managed to snag a fat YouTube contract when things went south with Fortnite:
The rather unknown game Suika Game has become a huge success in Japan, even surpassing Zelda and Mario. MyMMO reveals what it’s all about.
What game are we talking about? It is a simple fruit-stacking fun game that has taken the gaming world by storm, but hardly anyone here really knows. We are talking about Suika Game from 2021, a watermelon game by Aladdin X for the Nintendo Switch.
A puzzle game costing 2.99 euros that became a hit in Japan in 2023 and even surpassed classics like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikim 4, and Mario Bros Wonder.
The success is probably also due to the low price, but let’s take a closer look at the whole thing.
Here you can get a little insight into the game:
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How is the success demonstrated? The game celebrated its release in 2021, but only two years later did it achieve great successes. Especially after it was streamed by Japanese live streamers and VTubers such as those from Hololive Production.
Currently, Suika Game is ranked 1 in the annual download ranking of Nintendo Switch in Japan, followed by The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Pikim 4, and Mario Bros Wonder. You can read the complete ranking on the official Japanese website of Nintendo. The ranking only takes into account eShop downloads, not physical sales, and only sales figures in Japan.
Although it was initially only available in the store in Japan, it was also released for download in other countries – including Germany.
If you look at the monthly ranking for the German Nintendo eShop, you will also find Suika Game, but almost at the end of the list.
The new Zelda game was a huge hit but couldn’t keep up with Suika Game everywhere.
Start video
An advertisement for the new Zelda game shows a man rediscovering gaming
A look at the gameplay
What kind of game is this? In Suika Game, the goal is to stack different fruits in a box without them falling over the edge. The game has a simple but difficult-to-master mechanic that you won’t let go of quickly:
Combine fruits: You need to combine two identical fruits by stacking them on top of each other. This creates the next larger fruit in the cycle. The largest fruit possible is the coveted watermelon in this game.
Plan placement strategically: Since you cannot predict which fruit will fall next or whether one nearby will pop, the game requires strategic planning when placing the fruits.
Prevent overflow: The main goal is to prevent the fruits from falling over the edge of the box. If this happens, the round ends and your points are displayed.
Ongoing play: The game continues as long as you successfully combine fruits without them overflowing. You can try to beat your high score and the high scores of other players and create larger and larger fruits.
The success of Suika Game outside of Japan can also be attributed to the support from popular English-speaking streamers like Ludwig, LilyPichu, and QTCinderella, who contributed to the further spread of the game.
Despite its initial obscurity, Suika Game has developed into a phenomenon that has surprised the gaming world. There are also some clones of Suika, including My Suika on Steam, which was released this November.
In games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, cheaters can ruin entire matches. A cheater was noticed during a livestream on Twitch while dancing happily in his chair. One might think a “professional battle royale player” wouldn’t need to cheat at all.
In comparison, the cheat used by the Twitch streamer “DDevinity” seems almost uncreative but no less nasty. While he happily dances in his chair and watches a teammate secure victory in a match in CoD: MW3, not only do his dance moves catch the eye upon closer inspection, but also strange red markings.
Start video
The new CoD MW3 presents itself with shooter action in the new multiplayer trailer
What can be seen in the clip? On December 30, user “astra1x” posts a clip on X (formerly Twitter) and writes: “Caught the dude hacking live in-stream.” At first glance, it appears to be a normal situation from a match in the “Search and Destroy” mode.
A player places a bomb and secures victory for the team. The streamer “DDevinity”, who seems to have been killed prior, watches and dances happily in his chair. However, upon closer inspection, one notices red markings on the opposing players.
The red boxes mark enemies, revealing their position—even behind walls.
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Many users comment underneath the post on X, asking how one can tell he is cheating. The post creator replies with a screenshot from the clip, stating: “Harder to see on mobile, but he has red boxes.”
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How does the community react? The clip is currently being shared and commented on by various accounts on X, including “ModernWarzone”, a Call of Duty news account with over 856,000 followers. Not only are there discussions about the cheats, but also about the label of “DDevinity” as a pro player with “70k dollars in total earnings”, as stated in his Twitch info.
Esports host Katie Bedford questions in a comment on X how he arrives at the number of earnings. “ModernWarzone” points out that he has this in his info. On X, he has deleted it, but it’s still there on Twitch .
On Twitch, “DDevinity” calls himself a “professional battle royale player” and refers to his achievements based on Fortnite matches and games like Apex and Overwatch.
In another clip on X from December 30, the cheater “DDevinity” can be heard, according to “astra1x”. He confirms that he cheated in that situation, but apparently has never done so before. He says he will be honest and admits that he bought the cheats only on the 29th [of December].
What reason does he give? “DDevinity” mentions he does not want to throw anyone under the bus, but he asked someone how to set up the cheats. He got mad after dying three times in the Warzone finals yesterday. “I got mad and I didn’t set [the cheats] up. I don’t know how to make the settings, I don’t know what the hell I did.”
In the comments, several people point out that this is often the standard excuse: they bought the cheats just yesterday and don’t normally use them. Some ask why one would buy something like that without knowing how it works.
If you want to cause real chaos and have an advantage in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – of course without cheating – you should take a closer look at certain killstreaks. Especially in hardcore mode, this can mean death for your opponents:
A study at the University of Bonn used video games in the treatment of people with depression – with amazing results.
What was the study about? A study at the University of Bonn aimed to investigate the effect of 3D video games on subjects with severe depression (Major Depressive Disorder). The 46 participants were divided into 3 groups and subjected to one of 3 treatment types over 6 weeks:
One group played the Nintendo classic Super Mario Odyssey on the Switch
One group worked with the computer program ‘Cogpack’, which is supposed to improve brain performance
One group received the ‘standard treatment’ in the form of psychotherapy and/or medication
The aim of the study was to examine the impact of video games on the mood, motivation, and memory of those affected.
Our expertise at MeinMMO is gaming and everything that goes with it, not medicine. If you are struggling with depression, please consult a doctor you trust. If you need help urgently, you can contact the Telephone Counseling Service for free, around the clock. You can reach them at 0800/111 0 111, 0800/111 0 222 or 116 123 or on their official website.
Start video
The “Deep Dive” is supposed to immerse us into MMORPGs deeper than ever before – What is it actually?
Video games can have a positive effect on well-being
What were the results of the study? In fact, the researchers found a significant reduction in depressive symptoms only in the gaming group. Thus, Super Mario outperformed both the cognitive training program and the classical therapy in this regard.
However, the working memory showed an improvement in only one test, while the CogPack group improved in all visually-spatial memory functions.
What is particularly interesting is that the participants in the gaming group had a significantly higher motivation to continue their ‘treatment’. The researchers caution to interpret the results of the study carefully and state that further investigations with larger samples are necessary.
Nevertheless, the results show that video games can positively affect well-being and have the potential to be used as a complementary treatment at some point in the future.
If you are interested in the scientific aspect, you can find the complete study on Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Not only at the University of Bonn have scientists recognized the potential of video games in research. One scientist wanted to explore the relationship between certain mental disorders and complex problem-solving skills and used an 8-year-old city-builder on Steam for this purpose.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The year 2023 is coming to an end and shooter fans have also been able to enjoy some new games in recent months. MeinMMO editor Dariusz Müller has taken a look at the shooters that were released in 2023 and selected the top three.
How did this list come about? I looked at all the shooters released in 2023 and made a selection of the three best based on various factors. Among other things, I paid attention to the state of the game (performance, bugs, etc.) as well as player satisfaction.
Why isn’t shooter X included? Quite simply, because in my perception it does not belong among the three best shooters of the year. This can have various reasons, including poor performance, a plethora of bugs, or other factors that negatively affect the gaming experience.
[toc]
The Finals – Pure destruction and fast movement
Genre: Arena shooter |Developer: Embark Studios |Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series |Model: Free-to-play | Perspective: First-person
I won’t beat around the bush and will start directly with the best shooter of the year: The Finals.
The title from Embark Studios gets a lot right, including the gunplay, movement, and various abilities and gadgets.
The selection of weapons is small, but the gunfights are still fun. The movement is fast, but not excessive.
There is no fall damage and gadgets that allow vertical gameplay, which sensibly enhances movement.
The gadgets have interactions. Gadget B counters Gadget A, Gadget C counters Gadget B, and so on.
The three classes, including the various weapons, abilities, and gadgets, allow for individual builds and team compositions to play different strategies
Start video
In The Finals you can live out your destruction rage – Trailer for the Open Beta
The unique selling point of The Finals is clearly the enormous extent of destruction that players can wreak on the map.
You can destroy almost any building and deliberately blow up walls or floors to gain the upper hand. Often
Pro
The destruction of the map is not only innovative, but unique
Free-to-play
The fresh release ensures an active player base at the moment
Intuitive, easy gunplay with consistent recoil patterns
Fast movement, enhanced by gadgets
Players can create individual loadouts and adapt them to their play style
Strategic uses of gadgets and abilities give the gameplay additional depth
Contra
As a free-to-play shooter, The Finals has had a cheating problem shortly after release
SBMM has been a bit too strict since the last update
The movement feels slower to many players than in the open beta
Only 4 maps, with more planned for the future
Remnant 2
Genre: Co-op shooter |Developer: Gunfire Games |Platform: PC, PS5, Xbox Series |Model: Buy-to-play | Perspective: Third-person
With Remnant 2, we also have a PvE shooter on the list. The title from Gunfire Games impresses with its atmosphere, world design, and tough gameplay and is a worthy successor to the first part – Remnant: From the Ashes.
Remnant 2 is not a normal PvE shooter, as the third-person title is also a soulslike and therefore wants to drive you crazy with tough boss fights.
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We played Remnant 2 – Is the co-op game worth it?
You can choose from various classes – the so-called archetypes – and attributes to select the best combination for you and fight to survive in the dark game world with up to 3 players.
A highlight of Remnant 2 are definitely the many secrets hidden within the shooter. For example, there is a class that was only discovered through data mining.
Pro
World building/ world design/ atmosphere
Every playthrough is different because the order is randomized
BattleBit Remastered is a PvP shooter that made headlines in summer 2023 as the low-poly Battlefield. And that describes the game principle of BattleBit quite accurately.
You choose a class and join up to 254 players in a chaotic battle, either on foot or with various vehicles. You have well-known weapons such as an M4 or UMP at your disposal.
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Battlebit Remastered – Announcement Trailer
While the game modes, player counts, and general chaos remind one of Battlefield, the representation of the characters is more reminiscent of LEGO than of a classic first-person shooter.
Even if BattleBit doesn’t look like a great shooter, it implements the most important aspects well. Especially the gunplay is convincing. But also the maps, selection of weapons, and class compositions enhance the gaming experience.
Pro
Large chaotic battles like in Battlefield
Good performance
Intuitive and simple gunplay
Good selection of weapons, maps, and class gadgets
Beginner-friendly
Contra
Available only on Steam
Low-poly graphics aren’t attractive
Some players complain about a susceptibility to motion sickness
Player numbers have decreased significantly since the successful release
Honorable Mention: Roboquest
The roguelike shooter Roboquest narrowly missed out on our top 3, but still deserves an honorable mention. In Roboquest, you play short level instances against AI and collect various weapons along the way. When your character falls in battle, you have to start a new run and begin again.
Both the movement and the gunplay are successful in Roboquest. The same goes for the art style and soundtrack of the game. Roboquest follows a simple principle and implements it very well.
In 2023, there were also a few shooters that didn’t make it into the top 3. The aforementioned shooters all had flaws and points of criticism that prevented them from being included in our list – even if a big name is behind the shooter.
Counter-Strike 2
The highly anticipated shooter came with problems. Bugs, cheaters, and glitches dampen the gaming experience.
In addition, players miss numerous contents that the predecessor CS:GO had.
One point of criticism is also the worsened peekers’ advantage
MW3 is actually not a bad shooter, which even receives praise from players – especially developer Sledgehammer Games, which quickly responds to community feedback, has been able to impress.
In general, the game’s implementation has been criticized – for example, regarding the pre-made classes
Moreover, EFT: Arena can hardly be counted as “release 2023”. The shooter only started its closed beta a few days ago and only granted access to a small number of players in the first wave.
Players in Baldur’s Gate 3 have come up with a particularly clever idea for New Year’s Eve. They plan a special fireworks display at the expense of a companion. MeinMMO reveals what it’s all about.
What is planned? The Polish gaming group baldurawka has come up with something very special to usher in the new year in the Game of the Year Baldur’s Gate 3 – they plan to blow up the beloved character Gale all at once tonight when the clock strikes twelve.
On X, a player named outstarwalker stumbled upon this spectacular idea and shared it on Facebook. The group, describing itself as a Meme-Shitposting-Community on Facebook, which revolves around the “Baldur’s Gate” series and D&D in general, seems to have concocted the perfect plan to end 2023 with a bang – quite literally.
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Middle finger to the AAA industry: Baldur’s Gate 3 was no coincidence
Fireworks at the push of a button
But who is Gale? For those wondering who the hell he is: he is an origin character in the critically acclaimed turn-based RPG Baldur’s Gate 3. There are several companions who can join your group – one of them is Gale.
Spoiler: The following contains spoilers about Gale’s story.
Gale is a human mage and a true prodigy. Gale’s goal is to become the greatest mage of all time, and on his journey, he shines with his extensive knowledge and charming, empathetic nature.
How do they plan to blow up Gale? To understand the explosive idea, one must delve a little into Gale’s backstory. He has an insatiable thirst for magic, and in his chest lies a destruction sphere that could explode at any moment. To prevent this, he must constantly consume magical items.
However, during his questline, there is a chance to fix this problem. After an encounter with the powerful Elminster, he no longer needs magical food. Instead, the player gets a button on the hotbar to make Gale explode at any time.
The explosive execution
The creative minds at baldurawka have decided not to use this power in combat but to utilize it as the ultimate New Year’s fireworks. But how is that supposed to happen?
Here come three options into play:
Blow him up yourself with the button on the hotbar at any arbitrary place, which means game over.
At the end of the second act, Gale offers to blow himself up and eliminate the nasty enemies, which however leads to the end of the game.
Another option appears at the end of the game (Act 3), where Gale wants to sacrifice himself. If you allow that, the scenes at the end continue, unlike in the sacrifice in the second act.
The Facebook group is unfortunately set to private, so it remains unclear whether they will blow up Gale at any place or specifically at certain sequences. But honestly, that’s probably the least important question in a venture as epic as a magical New Year’s fireworks display.
The idea of ushering in 2024 with an epic Gale fireworks display has its own charm.
